Air separator



Feb. 11, 1930. T. J. STURTEVANT AIR SEPARATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed June23, 1928 //Vl/ENT'O/'?.'

A TTOR/VEV Feb. 11, 1930.

T.' J. SVTURTEVANT AIR SEPARATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 23. 1928 ATT'ORNE') Patented Feb. 11, 1930 umrsn STATES PATENT OFFICE THOMAS J.STUIRTEVANT, OF WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO STURTEVAN'I MILLCOMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASEACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS AIRsnrnnn'roa Application filed June 23,

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to air separators forgrading mate rials. y

These air separators are of the type wherein the separation isaccomplished by an air current moving upward in a separating chamher anddownward in a settling chamber. The air current is induced by a tan andcaused tocirculate through the chambers, and the materials to be gradedare fed into the separating chamber andare received by a rotarydistributor which under the influence of centrifugal force throws thematerials out across the rising air current in the separating chamber.The lighter particles are carried upward by the air current over intothe settim chamber wherethey gravitate down-' war d and are deliveredthrough a spout,

while the heavier particles gravitate through the air current in theseparating chamber and are delivered from another spout.

In grading certain classes of materials it is desirable to accomplishthe separation in two stages. In the first stage a percentage of thefines is separated and in the second stage a further percentage of thefines is separated. As a result, three products may A purpose of thepresent inbe obtained.

vention is to provide in one apparatus a 39 plurality of separatorswhich are arranged in tandem, the construction being such that thetailings leaving one separator enter another separator. These separatorsare in one casing and the fans and rotary distributors of the twoseparators are mounted on the same shaft and a single driving meansserves both separators. The construction is such that desirable,efiicient grading of the mate rials is accomplished, and there is amaterial savin in cost of construction, operation and b I spaceoccupied.

The character of the invention may be best understood by reference tothe following description of an embodiment thereof shown 5 in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. leis a vertical section through theseparator;

Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale is a sectional detail showing the sidethrust bearing for 59 the shaft;

192B. Serial No. 287,762.

Fig. 3 on an enlarged scale is a horizontal section taken on line 38 ofFig. 1;

Fig. ,4 is a detail of one of the spacer washers; and

Fig. 5 shows a series of vanes which are employed between the separatingand settling chambers.

Referring to the drawings, the air separator shown therein as one goodform of the invention comprises an outer casing 1 including a drum 3having a head 5 at the top thereof and a cone 7 at the lower end of thedrum terminating in a discharge spout 9. Secured to the drum arebrackets 11 which may be mounted upon a suitable support.

Within the outer casing is an intermediate casing 13 comprising a drum15, an upper cone 17 and a lower cone 19 terminating in a dischargespout 21.

Within the intermediate casing is an inner casing 23 comprising a drum25, a cone 27 and a cone 29 terminating in a discharge spout 31. Thecone 29 is mounted on webs 33 secured to angle irons 35 and 37 securedto the cones 19 and 29 respectively. At the top of the cone 29 is achannel ring 39. The cones 27and 29 have an inlet space between themoccupied by a series of vanes 41 (Fig. 5) which may be adjusted to varytheir angularity and the spaces between them.

Mounted on the top ofthe cone 17 of the intermediate casing is a channelring 43, and depending therefrom is a conical hopper 45. Above thishopper is a casing 47 comprising a drum 19 and a cone 51 which is spacedfrom the hopper 4:5. Occupying this space are a series of spaced vanes53 similar to the the plates 55, but also to support the intermediatecasing 13 on the outer casing.

At the top of the drum 49 is an. outlet provided with a valve comprisingplates 65 on .arms 57 which extend through brackets 69 secured to theouter casing. The plates and are radially adjustableto vary the size oftheir central openings.

A vertical shaft 71 comprises parts detachably connected by a two-partcoupling 73, said shaft being journalled in an end thrust ball bearing75 in a housing 77 mounted on the head 5 0f the outer casing. This shaftalso is journalled in a side thrust bearing 79 (Fig. 2), self-aligningand mounted on legs 81 secured to the cone 29 of the lower inner casing.Fast on the upper end of shaft 71 is a bevel gear 83 meshing with abevel gear 85 on a horizontal shaft 87 having a pulley 89 thereon whichmay be driven from a suitable source of power.

A rotary distributor 91 is mounted on the shaft 71 and located in theupper inner casing 47 above the distributor and carried by the shaft 71is a baflle plate 93. Projecting up from the baflle plate is a hub 95supporting afan mounted in a chamber 97 and comprising arms 99 carryingblades 101.

Mounted on the shaft 71 is a rotary distributor 103 in the lower innercasing 23. Above this distributor and carried by the shaft is a baflieplate 105. Projecting up from this baffle plate is a hub 107 carrying afan comprising arms 10 9 and blades 111 in a space 113.

The materials to be graded are introduced into the separator through amouth 115 of a hopper 117 which projects down through the head 5 of theouter casing, said mouth being provided with a flap valve 119 urged toclosed position by an arm carrying a weight 121.

The casing 47 contains a separating chamber 123. Between the casing 47and the outer casing is a settling chamber which communicates with apassage 127 between the outer and intermediate cones 7 and 19, saidpassage leading to the spout 9. Within the casing 23 is a separatingchamber 129, and between the casing 23 and the casing 13 is a settlingchamber 131 communicating with a passage 133 leading to the spout 21.

To enable access to the interior of the separator, there may be provideda manhole 135 in the cone 29, a somewhat larger manhole 137 in the cone19, and a still larger manhole 139 in the cone 7. The cone 17 may bedetachably connected by bolts 141 to the drum 15, thereby facilitatingassembly of the parts.

In operation, the vertical shaft 71 is rotated, thereby rotating theupper fan which develops a whirling air current moving in a circuit upin the separating chamber 123 and down in the settling chamber 125,passing through the spaces between the vanes 53 and the outlet at thetop of the separating chamber. The shaft also rotates the fan in thechamber 113, thereby developing a whirling air current moving in acircuit upward in the separating chamber 129 and down in the set tlingchamber 131, passing through the inlet spaces between the vanes 41 andthe outlet at the top of the separating chamber. The air circuits of thetwo separators are independent. The materials to be graded are fedthrough the mouth 115 into the hopper 117 of the upper separator anddeposited on the rotary distributor 91 which whirls the mate rialsoutward in the separating chamber 123 across the path of the air currentmoving upward therein. The fines are carried by the rising air currentup out of the separating chamber 123 over into the settling chamber 125and pass thence through the passage 127 to the spout 9. The tailingsgravitate downward in the separating chamber 123 through the hopper 15to the lower separator, are deposited on the rotary distributor 103, andare thrown outward thereby under the influence of centrifugal force intothe path of the air current moving upward in the separating chamber 129.The fines are carried by the rising air current up into the chamber 113and over into the settling chamber 131, and gravitate downward throughthe passage 133 to the spout 21. The tailings gravitate downward throughthe air current rising in the separating chamber 129 and are dischargedthrough the spout 31. Thus, by this separator three products may beobtained. The fines taken out by the upper separator may be of the samedegree of fineness as the fines taken out by the lower separator, orthey may have different degrees of fineness, depending upon adjustmentsof the valves at the heads of the separating chambers. The upperseparator may be overloaded so that there will be a substantialpercentage of fines present in the tailings delivered by the upperseparator, and these may be removed by the lower separator.

By providing the two separators in one casing, and overloading the upperseparator, fines may be separated with a capacity of a separator whichwould need to be much larger in order to accomplish the same results.

There are important advantages in tandem separators constructed andarranged as above described. The separators may share the same outercasing, the rotary distributors. baffle plates and fans are on one shaftand the single driving means at the upper end of the shaft serves torotate all of them, and the separator may be constructed and iu stalledat less expense and occupies less space than two independent separators.

It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificembodiment shown. and that various deviations may be made therefromWithout departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

hat is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for grading materials, comprising, in combination, an outercasing, a separator therein for grading material into fines and tailingscomprising communicating separating and settling chambers, and a fan forcausing air to circulate in a circuit through said chambers; and asecond separator in the outer casing comprisingc-om municatingseparating and settling chambers, and a fan for causing air to circulatein a circuit through said chambers; the second separator being arrangedto receive and grade the tailings from the first separator into finesand tailings; the air circuits of the two separators being independent.

2. Apparatus for grading materials comprising, in combination, an outercasing, a separator therein for grading material into fines and tailingscomprising communicating separating and settling chambers, a fan forcausing an air current to circulate in a circuit through said chambers,and a valve for regulating the air current; and a second separator inthe outer casing comprising communicating separating and settlingchambers, a for causing an air current to circulate in circuit throughsaid chambers, and a valve torregulating the air current; the secondseparator being arranged to receive and grade the tailings from thefirst separator into fines and tailings, and said valves beingadjustable independently to regulate the air currents oi" the twoseparators.

3. Apparatus for grading materials comprising, in combination, an outercasing, a separator therein for grading material into fines and tailingscomprising communicating separating and settling chambers, a fan forcausing an air current to circulate in a circuit through said chambers,and a valve at the top of the separating chamber for regulating the aircurrent; a second separator in the outer casing comprising communicatiiseparating and settling chambers, a fan for causing an air current tocirculate in a circuit through said chambers, and a valve at the top ofthe separating chamber; the second separator being arranged to receiveand grade the tailings from the first separator into fines and tailings.

4. Apparatus for grading materials comprising, in combination,an'outercasing, a separator therein for grading material. into fines andtailings comprising separating and settling chambers, the separatingchamber having an inlet and an outlet communicating with the settlingchamber, a series of spaced vanes at the inlet, and a fan for causing anair current to circulate ina circuit through said chambers and inlet andoutlet; and a second separator in the outer casing for receiving andgrading said tailings into fines and tailings and comprising separatingand settling chambers, the separating chamber having an inlet and anoutlet communicat ing with the settling chamber, a series of spacedvanes at the inlet, and a fan for causan air current to circulate in acircuit through said chambers and inlet and outlet; the air circuits ofthe two separators being independent and separately developed.

5. Apparatus for grading materials comprising, in combination, an outercasing, an air separator therein for grading material into fines andtailings comprising communicating separating and settling chambers, anda fan for causing an air current to circulate in a circuit through saidchambers and grade material into fines and tailings; and a secondseparator in the outer casing for receiving A and grading said tailingsinto fines and tailings and comprising communicating separating andsettling chambers, a fan for causing an air current to circulate in acircuit through saidchambers; and a shaft carrying and rotating both ofsaid fans.

6. Apparatus for grading materials comprising, in combination, an outercasing, an air separator therein for grading material into fines andtailings comprising communicat ng separating and settling chambers, anda fan for causing an air current to circulate in a circuit through saidchambers; and a second separator in the outer casing for receiving andgrading said tailings into fines and tailings and comprisingcommunicating separating and settling chambers, a fan for causing an aircurrent to circulate in a circuit through said chambers; a shaftcarrying and rotating both of said tans, an end thrust bearing for saidshaft in the first separator, and a side thrust bearing for said shaftin the second separator.

7. Apparatus for grading materials comprising, in combination, an outercasing, a separator therein for grading material into fines and tailingscomprising communicating separating and settling chambers, and a fan forcausing an air current to circulate in a circuit through said chambers;and a second separator in the outer casing comprising communicatingseparating and settling chambers, and a fan for causing an air currentto circulate in a circuit through said chambers; the second separatorbeing arranged to receive and grade the tailings from the firstseparator into fines and tailings, and a passage between the outercasing and the second separator for the fines leaving the settlingchamber of the first separator.

8. Apparatus for grading materials comprising, in combination, an outercasing, an upper separator therein for grading material into fines andtailings comprising communicating separating and settling chambers, anda fan for causing an air current to circulate in acircuit through saidchambers, and a lower separator in the outer casing for receiving andgrading said tailings into fines and tailings andcomprisingcommunicating separating and settling chambers, and a fan forcausing an air current to circulate in a circuit through said chambers;and passages, one for delivering the fines from the upper separator,another for delivering the fines from the lower separator, and anotherfor delivering the tailings from the lower separator.

9. Apparatus for grading materials comprising, in combination, an outercasing, a separator therein for grading material into fines and tailingscomprising communicating separating and settling chambers, a rotarydistributor in the separating chamber, and a fan for causing an aircurrent to circulate in. a circuit through said chambers; and a secondseparator in the outer casing for receiving and grading said tailingsinto fines and tailings and comprising communicating separating andsettling chambers, a rotary distributor in the separating chamber forreceiving'tailings from the separating chamber of the first separator, afan for causing an air current to circulate in a circuit through saidchambers; and a shaft carrying and rotating said fans and distributors.

3o 10. Apparatus for grading materials comprising, in combination, anouter casing, a separator therein for grading material into fines andtailings comprising communicating separating and settling chambers, arotary distributor and battle plate in the separating chamber, and a fanfor causing an air current to circulate in a circuit through saidchambers; and a second separator in the outer casing for receiving andgrading said tailings 40 into fines and tailings comprisingcommunieating separating and settling chambers, a

. rotary istributor and baffle plate in the separating chamber, saiddistributor receiving tailings from the separating chamber of the- 5first separator, a fan for causing an air current to circulate in acircuit through said chambers; and a shaft carrying and rotating saiddistributors. battle plates and fans.

THOMAS J. STURTEVANT.

